A very rare and interesting second half of the 17th century quarter chiming lantern clock

John Ebsworth, Londini fecitThe 10.25 inch square brass dial enclosed by a single line border and decorated to each corner with a single flowerhead and leaves, the chapter ring measuring 1 and 7/8ths of an inch in width and 9 and 1/8th of an inch in diameter with outer Arabic minute track and Roman hours with fleur de lys half hour marks and inner quarter hour track, the dial centre signed in an engraved material cartouche in a flowing copperplate hand, surrounded by further flowers and foliage, all surmounted by a well turned finial securing the very heavy strapped bell over a further four matching finials on tapering Doric columns to ball feet, the three train movement with verge escapement, and countwheel for the quarters 44cms (17.5ins) high.

Footnotes

Many of the great makers made and retailed posted frame clocks suchas this. Examples from the 1670s and 80s by Fromanteel, Tompion,Knibb and Jones are well documented.The drapery cartouche was a popular style of signature plaque in the first10 or 20 years of the pendulum clock. It was used outside of horology inarchitectural details and monuments and lends a Baroque flourish to anydial. A similar thirty hour movement by Daniel Quare, but not quarterchiming, was sold in these rooms 15th December 2009, lot 113 for£12,300. A thirty hour clock alarm and similar dial by Andrew Prime circa1670 is illustrated in Horological Masterworks, Ticehurst, 2003, Exhibit 21.

John Ebsworth worked at the Cross Keys in Lothbury and also 'in newCheape Side'. He was an apprentice to Richard Aymes in 1657 and wasa member of the Clockmakers' Company from 1665 until his death in1699. It is probable that he succeeded Thomas Knifton at the Cross Keysupon Knifton's death circa 1667.

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